Tavb adolphe canet



3 T E NY A ,0 Am G B J (No Model.)

TORPBDO LAUNGHING TUBE.

Patented Feb. 13, 1894.

WASNINGTON, a. c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J B. GLA. GANET. TORPEDO LAUNC HING TUBE- Patented v: 1.. i :lafiiill:51.-. 2.... 1.

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"m: NAYIONAL umcsmwnms COMPANY.

WASHINGYON. D. c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. B. G. A. (JANET. TORPEDO'LAUNUHING TUBE- Patented Feb. 13, 1894.

THE NATIONAL LWHOGRAPHING coMPANY.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE' OANET, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO' JOSEPH WI-IITWORTH & 00., LIMITED, OF OPENSHAW,

ENGLAND. I

TORPEDO-LAUNCHING TUBE.

' SPEGIFICATIdN forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,810,12latedFebruary 13, 1894. Application filed March 18, 1893. Serial No. 466,750.(No model.) Patented in France December 31,1891,No. 218,411.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN BAPTISTE Gus- TAVE ADOLPHE (JANET, engineer, acitizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Paris, France, haveinvented certain new and useful Improved Apparatus for LaunchingTorpedoes and for Similar Purposes, (for whichI have obtained a patentin France, No. 218,411, dated December 31, 1891,) of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improved apparatus for launching torpedoes underwater. The apparatus hitherto usually employed for launching torpedoeshave guide beams with fiat sides which hold and guide the torpedooutside of the ship until the moment when it can be completely released.These guide beams may be housed in tubes or cases distinct from thosefor containing the torpedo and are operated by mechanical or othermeans. According to my invention I use a guide or guide-beam which istubular or hollow and may or may not have a portion of its sides orwalls-cut away. It has the form exteriorly of a solid, the strengthofwvhich at any section throughout its length is proportional to thestress, and is constructed to permit the liquid currents to actsimultaneously on all parts of the torpedo. In some cases the guideactually forms part of the launching tube and it may be constructed toing tube provided with a piston which is fit-- act either as a movablecylinder relatively to a fixed piston or may be provided with a pistonand be movable therewith in a fixed cylinder.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 1s a vertical longitudinalsection. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line m 00 Fig. l, andFig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section of my apparatus wherein theguide forms a part of one sideof the launching tube and serves as ahydraulic cylinder the piston 0t which is fixed. Fig. a is a horizontallongitudinal section of a modification of my said appara tus wherein theguide constitutes a launchted to work in an exterior envelope orcylinder. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 'y y Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 7 is a horizontal longitudinalsection, and Figs. 8 and 9 are transverse sections on the lines a z andz 2' Figs. 6 and 7 respectively showing another modification of my saidapparatus wherein the guide serves as a launching tube and is moved bymechanical means independently of the torpedo.

Likelettersindicate the same parts throughout the drawings.

A is the torpedo which is shown in full lines inside and in dotted linesoutside of the launching-tube.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the launching tube Bis of the proper form and sizeto receive the torpedo the said tube havingone side that communicates byan opening.B* with a chamber B in which the guide 0 works. The saidguide is made hollow and has fitted within it a piston D the rodD' ofwhich is securely fixed to the rear or inner end of the chamber B. O isanother piston fixed in the rear end of the tubular guide 0 and fittingclosely on piston rod D. The guide serves as a hydraulic cylindermovable relatively to a stationary piston. The piston rod D has smallpassagesd d extending through it for a purpose hereinafter specified.The said guide is so formed and placed in the chamber 13 that when theguide is within its chamber one side of it closes the aforementionedopening 13* in the side of the tube B. This side of the guide 0 isformed with dovetail grooves c and the side of the tube B oppositethereto is formed with similar grooves. These grooves receive theprojections or fins a. on the torpedo and thereby guide and sustain thelatter firmly until the moment its body is clear of the ship. E is awater-tight door at the rear'end of the launching tube and F is a valvefor closing the forward end of the said tube to prevent the entry of seawater when the door E is opened for placing the torpedo in the tube. Bis a drain cook or valve for drain- 'ing the tube before re-chargingsame with'a which flows from the sea into the tube; then air or waterunder pressure is admitted through the small passage (1 in the pistonrod D to the space forward of the piston D in the guide chamber. Thiswater presses upon the head of the guide and forces the guide out of thechamber into the position shown in dotted lines. Then air or water underpressure is admitted behind the torpedo and the latter is thereby drivenout of the tube B, its fins a being guided by the grooves o in the guide0. Then the passage d of the piston is opened for the admission, and thetube cl is opened for the exhaust of the air or water and the guide 0 isthereby caused to re-enter its chamber B.

In Figs. t and 5 I have shown a modification of my invention wherein theoperations of forcing out the guide and launching thev torpedo aresimultaneously performed. The launching tube B terminates at its outerend; in the guide 0 which is made hollow and ofl such a shape as tofacilitate the action of the; water upon the entire surface of thetorpedo. The said tube is formed at its rear end with; a flange B whichacts as a piston in the outer tube or cylinder B And at the same end thesaid-tube is provided with a water tight door or cover E. The cylinder Bhas on opposite sides of its bore two longitudinal grooves b which serveas guide grooves for the fins or tenons a on the torpedo. The tube B aswill be seen by reference to Fig. 4 consists of two parts of differentdiameter the large part serving as the cylinder of the piston B and thesmall part serving as a guide to the tube B. The said tube B is providedat its forward or outer end with a valve F and its rear end is closed bya water tight door B Apert-ures b? in the tube B permit communicationbetween the interior of the same and the annular space around it withinthe cylinder B.

The launching of the torpedo is effected as follows thatis to say:--Thetorpedo beingwithin the launching tube B and the doors E and B beingproperly closed the valve F is opened, the seawater then flows into thetube B and through the apertures 12 into the annular space surroundingthe said tube in front of the piston B Then by admitting air or waterunder pressure behind the said piston the tube B is forced out of thecylinder B as shown in dotted lines. As the tube B moves outward thewater inclosed i n the aforesaid annular space is forced through theapertures 12 and acts upon the rear of the torpedo imparting to it aspeed of outward movement in excess of that of the tube B andconsequently a resultant speed which considerably accelerates thelaunching. The return of the launching tube B into the cylinder B can bevery readily effected afteremployiug the said cylinder. This operationis facilitated by the pressure due to the head of water above the axisof the tube.

In the modification of my apparatus shown in Figs. 6,7, 8 and 9 thelaunching tube B terminates in the peculiarly formed guide and isprovided interiorly with longitudinal guide grooves extending along thesides of the said guide as and for the purpose above specified withreference to Figs. 4 and 5. The said tube has on its lower side a rack Gwith which is geared a pinion H which can be driven by any suitablemeans. The outer tube or cylinder B is provided at its forward end witha valve F and at its rear end with a water tight door 13 as abovedescribed. The said cylinder is provided with two automatic devices at band b". These devices are spring bolts; the bolt 1) limits the outwardmovement of the tube l3 and the bolt b retains the torpedo withoutexercising any restraint upon the said tube. 1) is an adjustable stopfor limiting the rearward movement of the torpedo.

bolt b islraised to release the torpedo drives the latter out of thetube. For effecting the return of the said tube into the cylinder it-isonly necessary to reverse the movement of the operating pinion H.

That I claim is- 1. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the combinationwith the launching tube, of a guide arranged in operative connectionwith the launching tube and movable outward for directing the torpedo asthe latter entersthe water, substantially as described.

2.111 a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination of the launchingtube, the guide chamber or tube at the side of the same, and the hollowguide sliding in said chamber, subs taiitially as described for thepurposes speci- 3. In a torpedo launching apparatus,'the combination ofthe launching tube, the guide chamber or tube at the side of the same,the hollow guide sliding in said chamber, and the fixed piston,substantially as described for the purposes specified.

4. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination with the launchingtube, of a hollow guide, a fixed piston within said hollow guide, andthoroughfares to conduct the working liquid to and from the hollow guideon opposite sides of the fixed piston, sub- 1s tantially as describedfor the purposes speciled.

5. In a torpedo launching apparatus, the combination of a launchingtube, a guide tube at the side thereof, a hollow movable guide for thetorpedo sliding in said guide tube, a

fixed piston and piston rod in said hollow other longitudinal groovesbin the launching guide, and thoroughfares leading through the tube,substantially as described, for the pursaid pist'on'rod into the hollowguide-on opposes specified.

posite sides of the piston, substantially as de- In witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my 5 scribed for the purposes specified. hand this20th day of January, 1893.

, 6. In a torpedo launchin apparatus the combination of a launchingtube, a g e JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET.

chamber or tube at the side of the same, a Witnesses: hollow guide 0sliding in thesaid chamber, ROBT. M. HOOPER, 1 1o longitudinal grooves cin the said guide, and OH. P. THIRION.

